Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Dee coach’s fond memories of mercurial Georgian star
would be three or four who were miles off it. That was frustrating to miss out when you’re on the fringes of the first team but you felt for established guys who were moved on.
“It was exciting times, the Bonettis were a bit eccentric but you knew they were top players and played for some great clubs. It was great as a young player to play with some of the players of that calibre.
“Claudio Caniggia was a huge star, I mean he moved to Rangers and went to a World Cup after playing for Dundee. Nemsadze was frighteningly good.
“Javier Artero had already been at the club but was great then there were Zurab Khizanishvili and Fabian Caballero – to be at a club and be involved in first-team t r a i n i n g wa s a n incredible experience.
“It was great to test yourself as a young player against these international-class players.
“The fans obviously look back at that era with fondness but you wonder about the cost and what happened afterwards would want it again.”
Looking back himself, Mackay could see there was more money being spent than just bringing in big-name players.
“The team would stay in a hotel the night before a game, home or away,” he added.
“It was crazy times. I know some clubs do the staying away before home games now but we’d be staying in St Andrews or Carnoustie for a game at Dens – you look back and its no wonder the club was in financial problems.
“When you see the squad that was assembled and the money spent, the team did underachieve not getting the top six.
“You look back and there were some great players like Claudio Caniggia but was it worth it?
“Before the Bonettis came in, there was a decent team being built by Jocky Scott, not far off a top-half finish, its not like they were struggling. Had they continued building that it would probably have been a solid SPL team.”
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